Fan takes ‘Hazzard-ous’ vacation
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Television shows have diehard fans — those willing to go to any length to meet their idols.
Photo courtesy of Paul Cyr
GENERAL LEE, a replica of the car made famous on the hit television series “The Dukes of Hazzard,” will be seen cruising around Presque Isle this year, as owner Troy Nichols, of Presque Isle, enjoys the warmer weather in his classic car.
Photos courtesy of Troy Nichols
LIVING A DREAM — Troy Nichols recently met Catherine “Daisy Duke” Bach during a March to Georgia — putting himself in an envious position with many of his friends back home in Presque Isle.
“BO DUKE” John Schneider poses for a picture with Presque Isle resident Troy Nichols.
HOLDING A TRUNK LID with signatures from seven cast members of “The Dukes of Hazzard” are Becky Blake Sperrey, of Presque Isle, and family friend Jerry Good. The lid is from Presque Isle resident Troy Nichols’s replica of General Lee, the car made famous by the popular television series.
But for most of us, the closest we’ll ever get is perhaps a signed photograph courtesy of some fan website, with no certainty the signature is, in fact, that of the star. But for one Presque Isle man who was willing to go the extra mile — or miles, in his case — to obtain autographs, he knows for certain they’re real — and he has the pictures to prove it.
For those of you who watched television in the 1970s, there’s a good chance you saw at least an episode of “The Dukes of Hazzard,” with its cast of “good ole boys” Luke and Bo Duke, joined by a cast of unforgettable characters. Troy Nichols, of Presque Isle, is considered a major fan of the show — having grown up watching every Friday night with his grandfather — who now has a collection of memorabilia, including a replica of the General Lee (a Dodge Charger). A road trip March 8-10 landed him even more to brag about, when he had the pleasure of attending the Georgia reunion of the show’s cast.
“The name of the event was ‘The Dukes of Hazzard Georgia Reunion’ Classic Car Show and Music Festival. My girlfriend, Becky Blake Sperrey, went with me for our March vacation,” said Nichols.
Nichols became friends with members of the DukesFest Committee in the process.
“They recently told me about 61,000 attended the March event,” he said.
While some brought replica cars to the show, Nichols — since he had to travel some distance to attend — opted to take just his trunk lid, in hopes of getting a few members of the cast to sign it.
“I did meet another guy with a freshly-painted trunk lid to a General Lee he was building at the time,” noted Nichols.
While some he met told him he’d be lucky to get one or two signatures, as luck would have it, he was able to get seven signatures.
“Meeting the cast — it was amazing. I got really excited finding out that all seven cast members were actually staying at the Comfort Suites a few floors up in the same hotel I was in. I met Ben Jones — Cooter — and his wife, Alma, in the elevator. I met Catherine Bach, who played Daisy Duke, in the lobby while I was sitting with “Deputy Cletus” Rick Hurst eating breakfast and chatting together, telling him I drove clear from northern Maine with a trunk lid for him to sign,” said Nichols. “He laughed.”
Next, Nichols met Sonny Shroyer, who played Enos, out in the parking lot.
“He (Sonny) signed my trunk lid first. Then I met Cletus and Roscoe (James Best) at the hotel lobby entrance outside. I met Daisy, Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) later at the Middle Georgia Raceway, two miles away from our hotel,” Nichols said, with a grin.
When asked who was his favorite, Nichols said they all were.
“I have no favorites. I really like them all. They’re all very talented people with big hearts,” said Nichols.
Like other participants, he made his rounds getting autographs and enjoyed having his picture taken with the stars of the popular show which is now available on re-runs and on DVD.
“I got my picture taken with every member of the cast, including Daisy. What’s not to love about that?” asked Nichols, who owns the complete disc set of the television series.
Participants also had the chance to enjoy some music, with performances by David Allan Coe, Ben Jones & Cooter’s Garage Band, Confederate Railroad, The LACS, Rusty Williams, Still Cruizin’ and A2Z.
While at the event, Nichols became a bit of celebrity himself.
“I was interviewed by the local television station and even got interviewed for NBC’s ‘Today Show,’” said Nichols.
Both clips are now available for viewing online.
Nichols said while he’s not sure he’ll be able to get away from work for upcoming shows, he’ll try to get away for another one before long.
“The next event is June 8 in Nashville, at Cooter’s Garage. It’s a ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ museum across from The Grand Ole Opry. The closest larger event will be June 22 in Hagerstown, Md. I’ve been invited to that one by Alma (Ben Jones’s wife),” said Nichols, noting he’s kept in touch with the Joneses since meeting them in March.
Nichols said while he may at some point decide to sell his General Lee, he’ll never part with the trunk lid.
“If I sell the car, I’ll replace the trunk lid. It’s about more than the signatures, this lid will remind me of some great times and making some great friends. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m so glad I went,” said Nichols.
